Photographic-printing frame.



No. 659,973. Patented news, 1900. w. a L. uunson.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING FRAME.

(Application filed Apr. 16, 1900.)

SNO Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l/VILLIAM HUDSON AND LAWRENCE HUDSON, OF BURNLEY, ENGLAND.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING FRAME.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 659,973, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed April 16 1900. berial No. 13,16A. (No model.)

1'0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, WVILLIAM HUDSON and LAWRENCE HUDSON, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Burnley, Lancaster county, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic- Printing Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to that class of photographic-printing frames in which the back of the frame is retained in the desired position by a flexible metal strap secured, hinged, or pivoted to the edge of the frame at one side and extends across and binds the back in position and fastens on the edge of the frame at the other side by a bent-wire swivel, which engages with the free end of the strap and prevents any possible movement of the back in the frame or the picture or print. In this method of fastening the strap two movements are, however, required, one to seize the flexible metal strap and the other to hold and bring forward the wire swivel for engagement with its end, which is bent into the form of a lip. Now this is a drawback to the speed with which the frame is manipulated.

Our invention is designed to secure the end of the flexible metal strap at one operation and similarly to release or disengage it at one operation. For the purposes of our invention we substitute for the wire swivel described one of peculiar and novel construction.

According to our invention instead of looping the two ends of the swivel around the eye or small staple which secures it to the side of the printing-frame we make the swivel at one end with a bend and pass it through the staple or eye. Then we further bend the extremity in the form of an elongated U with the other portion of the swivel, bringing it to project under the bent lip of the flexible metalstrap. Atitsotherextremitythe swivel is bent to pass through the staple or eye and is then curved around into a loop or bend, so as to be capable of being manipulated by thumb-pressure, as hereinafter explained,for releasing the strap. When the swivel lies flat against the side of the frame in its inoperative position, its bent limb, which forms the U portion, stands up somewhat and in such a manner that when the flexible metal strap is pressed down it forces the bent limb or U portion of the swivel downward, which operation thereby raises the swivel portion and brings it over the lip formed at the extremity of the flexible metal strap, securing or fastening the same in position automatically or at one operation. To release the strap, the loop or thumb portion at the opposite end of the swivel is pressed back, which disengages the same from the lip formed on the strap and allows the latter to spring or fly back.

Our invention will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan and partial perspective view of a photographic-printingv frame constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken 011 the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

A is the photographic-printing frame; B, its back, which is secured in position by the flexible metal straps O and D, pivoted at the respective sides of the frame, as shown at E.

Two of our improved forms of swivel K and L are represented for securing the ends, respectively, of the two flexible metal straps O and D. These swivels at the outer end of the frame after passing through the eye or staple F are bent into a projecting limb G, which forms, with the swivel, a kind of elongated U. When the swivel lies flat against the side of the frame, this limb projects upward somewhat. At their outer ends the swivels are bent and passed through the eye or staple H and then curved or curled to a suitable shape to admit of thumb-pressure, as shown at J.

The swivel K is shown in its inoperative position, while, on the contrary, the flexible strap D is represented as being secured by the swivel L.

When the end of the flexible strap 0 is pressed down, it forces down limb G of the swivel K, and thereby brings the latter over the lip M of the flexible strap 0, which thereby becomes secured in position in an exactlysimilar manner as shown by the strap D.

The flexible straps C and D are instantly released by thumb-pressure on the curled ends J of the swivels K and L, as the case may be, which action causes the flexible straps to spring or fly back, and the back B may then be removed and also, if need be, the picture.

It will be noticed that the operations of fastening the flexible straps and also of releasing them are performed with one movement.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, We declare that What We claim is- 1. A photographic-printing frame, having a pivoted bail-like main portion and a loop at one end with the free end portion thereof normallyinclined outward to adapt it for engagement with the partto be secured, such engagement bringing said bail-like main portion over said part, substantially as described.

2. A photographic-printing frame, having a pivoted bail -like main portion and end loops, one loop having a normally outward inclined free end portion and the other loop being arranged about in alinement with said main portion to provide for the disengagment of the latter from the secured part as pressure is applied to said latter loop, substantially as set forth.

3. A photographic-printing frame having a pivoted bail-like main portion and end loops, one loop having a normally outward inclined free end portion adapted as it is engaged by the part to be secured to bring said bail-like portion over said part, and the other loop arranged about in alinement with said bail-like portion to provide for the disengagement of the first-referred-to loop from the secured part, and staples confining said fastening in place, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAM HUDSON. LAVVRENOE HUDSON.

Witnesses:

F. RICHMOND, W. H. TANNER. 

